Housing woes Chicago Housing Authority chairman Vince...

January 13, 1989|By Kathy O`Malley and Hanke Gratteau.

Housing woes

Chicago Housing Authority chairman Vince Lane wants the public to believe that he`s intent on solving security problems in the CHA`s public housing units. But it seems to INC. that Lane keeps delivering some mixed signals. For example, on Nov. 25, Lane added community activist Marian Stamps-who`s had a few run-ins with the law over the years-to the CHA payroll as a ``safety inspector,`` a position paying $25,185 a year. Lane has assigned her to a Cabrini-Green building on Oak Street where her job entails ``reducing claim liabilities`` for the CHA`s legal department, according to a CHA spokesperson. Wonder how that`s sitting with all the Cabrini residents who have complained for years that Stamps, who`s not a resident there, doesn`t speak for their concerns.

Drain fame

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District has summoned the owner of a Robbins trailer park to appear before the commissioners Feb. 23 to explain why he hasn`t done any work since 1986 to fix what they say is an illegal sewer system. So who`s the trailer park owner? State Rep. Cal Sutker (D., Skokie).

Candidate candor

State Rep. Woods Bowman (D., Evanston) is going to dispense with all the preliminary nonsense about forming an exploratory committee and go straight for an announcement next week for statewide office. Bowman will say Tuesday that he`s running as a Dem candidate for state comptroller. Some pols are wondering if he`ll be as quick to drop his bid when the time comes. Meanwhile, INC. hears two Dems-Jan Schakowsky, a 1986 candidate for Cook County Board, and Jon Baum, an Evanston attorney-already are eyeing Bowman`s House seat. . . . State Treasurer Jerry Cosentino and Jim Donnewald, who became a former state treasurer courtesy of Cosentino, were spotted making peace Wednesday night in a Springfield restaurant.

Reel news

Chicago actor Jim True spent a month filming a supporting role in ``The Accidental Tourist``-but nobody will see it. Every inch of his part (as Dominic, a teen auto mechanic) wound up on the cutting room floor. He hopes to have better luck with his current project-``Fat Man and Little Boy`` with Paul Newman. . . . As Variety and the Hollywood Reporter grow thicker each day with ``For Your Consideration`` Oscar advertising, ``The Unbearable Lightness of Being`` and ``Bull Durham`` appear to be leading the pack in terms of volume, space and repetition. . . . A new re-colored stereo print of ``Gone With the Wind`` will play on the big screen at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., from Feb. 1 through 5.

Chicago faces

Some guys have all the chutzpah: Industrialist and would-be politico Bill Farley needed a date for the Inaugural Ball, so he asked Miss America. She said yes. . . . To promote next week`s opening of ``Tap`` starring Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis Jr., a tap dance competition will be held at the Daley Center Jan. 19. Preliminary auditions for those finals will be held between noon and 5 p.m. Friday at the Cotton Club, 1710 S. Michigan Ave. All dancers, all ages are welcome; have a two-minute routine and bring a cassette of music if you need it. The national winner gets master tap classes with Hines. . . . North Shore magazine is adding a monthly issues-oriented theater column by Jonathan Abarbanel.

Political shorts

House Minority Leader Lee Daniels is hosting a four-day conference for Republican members at Pheasant Run later this month to talk issue strategy. Presumably, the issues will be hammered out at a later date since Daniels is among the leaders waiting for House Speaker Mike Madigan and Mayor Gene Sawyer to lead the charge on a tax increase. . . . Speaking of Madigan, INC. wonders how Sawyer`s camp is taking the news that two supporters of Ald. Tim Evans-State Reps. Tony Young and Lovana Jones-now hold Dem leadership postions in the House.

Faye Dunaway, 48; Marjoe Gortner, 45; Gerald Arpino, 61; Julian Bond, 49; Andy Rooney, 70; Caterina Valente, 58; Lawrence Kasdan, 40. . . . For the first time in its 10-year history, Chicago`s Screen magazine missed publishing a regular weekly issue this week. Production and personnel problems were the cause; next week`s issue will be a double. . . . Although Pat Sajak`s Chicago ratings have dropped from his show`s Monday premiere, he continued topping Johnny Carson through Wednesday. . . . Sleaze among the pyramids: An Egyptian provincial court has ordered ``Falcon Crest`` off Egyptian television on the grounds that it undermines public morals.